Folding crate.



PAT'ENTED AUG. l1, 1903.

No. 735,939.V

B..r Ki., EMD., E GRASSE..

APPLIGATLWQN E'ILBD, DEQ., 1, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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IN1/MMR.

WTNESSES, 6%@

ivo. 735,939.

NiTnD STATES Iatented August 11, 1903i.

PATENT GFFICE.

BERTRAN ILBOYD, OF BANCROFT, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 735,939, dated August 11, 1903. Application filed December 1, 1902 Serial No. 133,435. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, BERTRAN K. BOYD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bancroft, county of Shiawassee, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Folding Crates, ofwhich the' following is a specilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has forits object certain new and useful improvements in a folding crate adapted for various uses; and it consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of devices and appliances hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a View in perspective, illustrating features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section, Athe cover being removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section. Fig. 4 is a view in plan, showing the crate in a partially-folded condition. Fig. 5 is a'detail View, partly in vertical section, showing the method of hinging the bottom to adjacent parts. Fig. 6 is a detail view at right angles to that shown in Fig. 5, also showing the method of hingin g the bottom to adjacent parts. Fig. 7 is a detail View of the cover.

The aim of my invention is to provide a folding crate of simple and economical construction and of superior eiciency and one which may be readily operated in folding and setting up the same.

I carry out my invention as follows:

In the drawings, a and b represent the two ends of the crate, and d and e represent the two sides thereof. with upright corner-posts at each extremity thereof, (indicated by the numeral l.) The end pieces are constructed With transverse bars or slats at the top and bottom thereof, (indicated by the numeral 2.) The upright corner-posts of the sides are pivotally connected at each extremity thereof with the corresponding transverse bars at the top and bottom of the end portions of the crate, permitting, as Willbe evident, the folding of the sides and ends, so that corresponding parts will lie flat against the other.

The sides and ends may be pivotally connected in any suitable manner, so as to fold together. As shown, thisis accomplished by The sides Aare each formed pivot-pins, (indicated atf,)vvhich may consist simpl'yof an ordinary wire nail driven through the transverse bars of the end pieces into the corner-upri'ghts of the sides. The sides and ends may be constructed of slat work for fruits and vegetables, or they may be made tight, if desired, for handling grain and other smaller articles of merchandise. It will be observed that the corner-uprights form a part of the outer surfaces of the ends when the crate is assemb1ed.` The ends are shown constructed simply of longitudiuallydisposed side bars or slats, (indicated at h.) The sides are shown formed with slats nailed to said uprights. The sides are also shown formed with handles at for lifting the crate with its contents.

The bottom of the crate is shown at g, the same being pivotally connected or hinged at one side thereof with the adjacent cornerposts, as indicated at t', in such a manner that the bottom may fold upward against the adL jacent sides. In order to accomplish this result in a satisfactory manner, the bottom is provided toward'one edge thereof with pivoti pins, as shown,'extending into rabbeted end portions r of the adjacent upright posts. To give freedom of movement to the bottom, these rabbeted portions or recesses to receive the pivot-pins of the bottom are shown vertically elongated and are of sufficient depth to permit the bottom readily to fold up snug against the inner surface of the adjacent side of the crate and to permit the bottom dropping down into place, the bottom when in place falling'down -between the corner-posts in such a manner as to prevent the sides and ends from folding together. The weight of the merchandise in the crate Will of course hold the bottom in place, the bottom also retaining its place by gravity when the crate is set up and empty. When folded up, the pivot-pins Will rise toward the top of the adjacent recesses in the corner-posts; but when the bottom is in normal position the pivotpins will drop toward the bottom of -said recesses.

The cover for the crate is indicated at lo IOO when the crate is desired to be used for ship-vv ping purposes. This cover is constructed with a sliding bar or slat m and with transverse bars or slats 3 and 4, restingat their extremities upon the upper edges of the side portions of the crate. Attached to the sliding bar m, toward each end thereof, are stopbars 5 and 6 to limit the movement of the sliding bar in either direction, said stop-bars preferably extending laterally over the adjacent portions of the cover. By moving the sliding bar or slat of the cover in one direction the projecting end of said bar may be engaged under the adjacent transverse bar 2 of one of the end portions, and then by moving the sliding bar in the opposite direction the opposite end thereof may be engaged under the other upper transverse bar 2 of the adjacent end portion of the crate. l

I do not limit myself to any specific construction of the side and end portions of the crate or of the cover and bottom, respectively.

The handles shown are constructed of transverse slats secured to the ends of the crate at the top thereof. I

It will be seen that the two ends fold up against the adjacent sides, the bottom being folded in between one side and end.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A folding crate comprising sides and ends, vertical pivots uniting the sides and ends, a folding bottoni provided with horizontal pivot-pins and arranged to fold upward against the adjacent inner portion of the crate, the pivotal connection of the bottom with the corresponding portions of the crate permitting the pivot-pins to rise when the bottom is in folded position and to fall when the bottom is in normal position.

2. A folding crate comprising sides and ends, the one formed with vertical posts at the extremities thereof and the other with transverse bars at the top and bottoln, vertical pivots uniting said posts and bars at the top and bottom of the crate, a bottom having pivotal connection at one side thereof with the adjacent vertical posts, saidbottom provided toward one edge thereof with horizontal pivotpins and the adjacent posts with verticallyelongated recesses to receive the adjacent ends of the pivot-pins.

3. A folding crate comprising sides and ends, theorie formed'with vertical posts at the extremities thereof and the other with transverse bars at the top and bottom thereof, vertical pivot-pins pivotally connecting the extremities of said bars with said posts at the top and at the bottom of the crate, a bottom having pivotal connection at one side thereof with the adjacent vertical posts, said bottom provided toward one edge thereof with horizontal pivot-pins and the adjacent posts with vertical elongated recessesat the lower ends thereof to receive the pivot-pins.

4. A folding crate comprising sides and ends, the one formed with vertical posts at the extremities thereof and the other with transverse bars at the top and bottom, vertical pivots uniting said posts and transverse bars at the top and bottom of the crate, a foldingbottom provided with horizontal pivot-pins and arranged to fold upward against the adjacent inner portion of the crate, a cover constructed with a sliding bar with transverse slats located over the opposite ends of the sliding bar and the extremities of said transverse slats resting upon the upper edges of the adjacent side portions of the crate, the sliding bar, when the cover isin locked position, having its extremities engaged under said transverse bars, and provided with stops to limit the movement of the sliding bar in either di rectiou.

5. A folding crate comprising sides and ends, the one formed with vertical posts at the extremities thereof and the other With transverse bars at the top and bottom, vertical pivots uniting said posts and bars at the top and bottom of the crate, a bottom having pivotal connection at one side thereof with the adjacent vertical posts, said bottom provided toward one edge thereof with horizontal pivotpins and the adjacent posts with verticallyelongated recesses to receive the adjacent ends of the pivot-pins, the upper Walls of the crate on opposite sides thereof provided with handles.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

BERTRAN K. BOYD. 

